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Billy Donovan looks forward to Gators' game on USS Bataan in Jacksonville

Bruce.Lipsky@jacksonville.com Billy Donovan, head basketball coach at the University of Florida, told the Jax Beaches Gator Club Gator Gathering Tuesday that he looked forward to playing basketball on the deck of the USS Bataan in Jacksonville in November.

Florida men’s basketball coach Billy Donovan will bring his team to the First Coast to open the coming season, but he made an early trip Tuesday night.

Donovan spoke to the Jax Beaches Gator Club at the Morocco Shrine Center. The Gators are coming off a 26-11 season in which they advanced to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season.

The quest for a third deep postseason run will launch at Mayport Naval Station when UF plays Georgetown in the inaugural Navy/Marine Corps Classic Nov. 9 on the deck of the USS Bataan. Of the 8,000 fans in attendance, 3,000 will be military personnel.

“I think for our players to see so many men and women in service to our country,” Donovan said, “fighting for our freedoms, servicing our country and things like that. A lot of those people are the same age our players are, so I think it’s going to be an incredible experience for our team. I’m just so happy we can be a part of it.”

UF has not lost a season opener since the 1990-91 season and is 16-0 in the Donovan era. Preparing for the challenge of facing the Hoyas, an NCAA Tournament team last season, as well as what could be difficult wind conditions, poses a unique challenge for Donovan. UF senior guard Kenny Boynton, Florida’s leading scorer last season, might be limited in his effectiveness. Boynton made 110 3-pointers last season.

“It will certainly be a different kind of game,” Donovan said. “I’m not sure how you get prepared for playing outside, but we’ll try to play our style of play and do the things that we would normally do. Certainly, shooting the ball from the outside could be difficult, but still I think it’s a great experience playing the first game of the year against Georgetown and playing a style of play that’s a unique style of play. I think that only makes us better.”

Donovan said preparing for the weather is a factor, but it might not matter. The game could get moved to the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena if rain is persistent that day.

“I hope for our team and Georgetown, and for the people putting this event together, that it works out that we will be able to play on the aircraft carrier,” Donovan said.

“I think playing in that kind of situation early in the year, when you have adversity, not just the adversity of playing a good team like Georgetown but you have the adversity of maybe playing outside, I think that really builds a perseverance and a mentality that you’ve got to find ways to overcome some of those things.”

Donovan will lean heavily on his frontcourt, not just against the Hoyas, but throughout the season. The unit is led by junior center Patric Young, a Jacksonville native who graduated from Providence School. As a sophomore, Young averaged 10.2 points and 6.4 rebounds a game for the Gators.

“When Patric is playing with a really great motor and energy, it totally changes the complexion of our team,” Donovan said. “It changes our disposition. It adds an element with his size and strength that’s very unique.”

Joining Young will be returning forwards Erik Murphy and Will Yeguete.

“They’ve got a lot of experience under their belts,” Donovan said. “There’s no question we’re going to need them to provide.”